Details of gunshot wounds, the crime scene, an early morning confession and testimony from the defendant himself punctuated Tuesday's court activity in the Carlos Jenkins murder trial.

Jenkins took the witness stand in his own defense Tuesday afternoon in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court. Jenkins told the court his statement to Lawrence County Sheriff's deputies in which he admitted to killing John Turvey was coerced after hours of interrogation and because he was afraid.

Jenkins told his attorney, David Reid Dillon that he lied to authorities when he said he knew Turvey. In fact, he said they were only acquaintances and that he did not even really know where Turvey lived.

Jenkins also denied that he had gone to Turvey's residence the morning of the shooting and that the two ever struggled over a gun, other statements he made to detectives.

"Did you kill John Turvey?" Dillon asked him.

"No, I did not," Jenkins answered.

"Did you have a reason to kill John Turvey?" Dillon queried.

"No," Jenkins replied.

"Do you use oxycontin?" Dillon asked Jenkins, referring to the prosecution's contention that Jenkins went to Turvey's house to obtain drugs from the terminally ill cancer patient.

"No," Jenkins answered.

But under cross examination, Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier pointed out that Jenkins has a criminal record that includes a drug conviction in Ironton Municipal Court and has a marijuana plant tattooed on his body.

Even after Collier asked Jenkins about the drug conviction, Jenkins continued to deny it. Collier also pointed out Jenkins' own time frame of where he was and what he was doing the day of the murder did not match those presented by his mother, Shirley Jenkins and his girlfriend, Samantha Woods.

Collier also asked Jenkins about why he had gone to the home he shared with Woods and told her to turn on the scanner and listen to see what was going on at Turvey's residence if he did not know who Turvey was or where he lived.

Collier also took issue with the contention that Jenkins' testimony was coerced from him by ruthless detectives.

"Do you recall Detective Hanshaw saying repeatedly to you, 'Say what you want to, say, all we want is the truth.' Do you remember that?" Collier asked, indicating that Hanshaw's comments were on tape.

"No," Jenkins replied.

"Did you not hear that when the tape was played?" Collier asked.

"If that was what the tape said, I lied," Jenkins replied.

Collier contended in his cross examination that Jenkins' story had changed so many times and differed from that given by other people it was difficult to tell what Jenkins believed to be the truth.

Jenkins' testimony followed that of his mother and girlfriend, both of whom spoke as character witnesses for him.

The prosecution rested its case after calling its final witness Dr. Collie Michael Trant, forensics pathologist with the Franklin County Coroner's Office. Trant conducted the autopsy of Turvey.

He testified that Turvey died of multiple gunshot wounds: Three to the head, one to the leg, one to the abdomen.

One bullet that eventually struck Turvey's head first entered his hand.

Trant said it is most likely Turvey was shot the first time in the head and instinctively reached to his head after receiving the bullet; the second bullet went through his hand and into his skull.

Some of Turvey's family members gasped and then wept as Trant held up autopsy photographs and explained what was shown in them.

Trant testified that based on powder residue, soot and other forensics, one wound was made with a gun only a foot away from the back of Turvey's ear.

The abdominal wound was made with the gun pressed against the skin. The leg wound was made probably while Turvey was seated.

"The entrance wound was just below the kneecap," Trant said. "It went up and was removed from his thigh. … The most likely scenario is that he was sitting and someone was in front of him and shot him."

This testimony contradicts the defendant's taped statement that he and the victim struggled over a gun after Turvey "wigged out" on him.

The defense is expected to call as many as four witnesses Wednesday.

Jenkins is accused of going to Turvey's Lane Ridge residence and shooting him to obtain drugs and money.